Funeral services scheduled for two men who died in crash

Funeral services for two men killed in a crash April 4 are scheduled for Saturday at separate churches, according to the victims' families.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

OCALA – Funeral services for two young men killed in a single-vehicle crash several days ago are scheduled for Saturday at separate churches, according to the victims' families.

Brittany Matthews, 21, sister of Bryan Lorenza Blunt, said her brother's funeral is 11 a.m., Saturday at Living Water Worship Center, followed by an interment at Greater New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Flemington.

Matthews said her 22-year-old brother was a “nice person” who always had a “smile on his face.” She also said her brother was not drunk or speeding.

She added that a candlelight vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the site of the accident – less than a mile away from North Marion Middle School located off County Road 329 -- for the ones who died in the wreck. Aside from her brother, his friend, 19-year-old Cornelius Lamar Rawls Jr., also died in the crash.

Those in attendance are urged to bring candles and balloons.

Early last Thursday, Blunt, of Ocala, his 18-year-old cousin Eddie D. Woods, of Ocala, Rawls and his 22-year-old brother, Demontay Drantail Billups, both of Reddick, were riding in a car that was approaching a curve. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the driver, identified as Blunt, lost control of the vehicle, and it slammed into a tree.

Rawls and Blunt were pronounced dead at the scene, while Billups and Woods were injured. The car was split in two, and debris from the wreckage where scattered throughout the scene.

A funeral service for Rawls is slated for 3 p.m. Saturday at Pentecostal Full Gospel Church. Burial will be at United Cemetery in Reddick.

Released from the hospital on Monday, Billups, in an interview with a Star-Banner reporter on Thursday, said both of his hips are fractured and he's in a wheelchair for the next two to three weeks.

Billups said he was the only one wearing a seat belt. He said he and his brother were at home, not far from the scene of the crash, when Blunt and Woods came to visit.

He said they went to a 24-hour barber shop in Ocala where he got a haircut. From there, he said they drove to Cloud 9, where Blunt entered the night club, leaving them outside.

Billups said he did not see Blunt drinking, and didn't smell any alcohol on his breath when he exited. He said Blunt was inside for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Billups said he drove from his house to the barber shop and the club. From there, he said he drove to Dr. B's, a sports bar, where he and Blunt went in and his brother and Woods were outside. He said neither he, his brother, nor Woods drank any alcohol.

Then, he said, Blunt, drove. They were on their way to drop Billups and his brother home, when the accident occurred.

At first, he said Blunt was not speeding, however, upon reaching the curve, he said the vehicle picked up speed. Billups said he told Blunt to slow down, but by then, it was too late. With the road being wet due to the rain, Billups said, Blunt lost control of the car.